Vista DUI Lawyer and Criminal Attorney Peter M. Liss

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Is a 911 Call Probable Cause? What if it’s Anonymous?

September 7, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

Police Spying on Phone Calls

On any given Friday or Saturday night, you might see signs on the side of the freeway advising drivers to report anyone they suspect of drunk driving to 911. But is this kind of tip really enough to serve as probable cause, allowing an officer to pull you over on suspicion of drunk driving? And […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, DUI / FELONY DUI, Traffic Stops Tagged With: 911, Cell phones, defenses, probable cause, traffic stops, technology, dui, reasonable suspicion

The Entrapment Defense Under California Law

May 19, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

Calgang gang registry database

One of the most commonly cited legal myths is that if you ask someone if they are a police officer, they have to tell you, or it is entrapment. Not only is this untrue, but it also underscores how little the average person understands about this legal concept. Unfortunately, entrapment is a complex area of […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, FEDERAL CRIMES, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: defenses, stings, entrapment, probable cause, police interrogations, know your rights, police

California Search and Seizure Laws

May 10, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

search and seizure laws california

For you to be charged with a crime, police must find enough evidence to indicate your guilt. For the charges to result in a conviction, the evidence must be strong enough to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While the California and US Constitutions protect citizens from illegal and unreasonable search and seizure, police […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, Computer Crimes, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, Traffic Stops, DRUG OFFENSES, THEFT CRIMES, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: know your rights, search and seizure, us constitution, better understanding the law, defenses, probable cause, evidence, police investigations

What are the Best Criminal Defenses in CA?

March 28, 2023 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

Criminal Defense Strategies

If you are charged with a crime, you will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, you and your criminal defense attorney will need to present a defense to show the prosecutor does not have enough evidence to prove your guilt. To do this, you and your criminal lawyer […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: entrapment, consent, false allegations, duress, statute of limitations, witness accounts, evidence, probable cause, confessions, better understanding the law, insanity defense, intent, defenses, self defense

Fighting Evidence from Police Informants

August 2, 2021 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

fighting evidence from informants

Police often rely on outside tips to solve crimes. Occasionally, they even incentivize people who have been accused of crimes to share information they have about other criminals. While the theory is that those in the criminal underworld are likely to get closer to other criminals and, thus, have more information about their illegal acts, […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, THE CA LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL PROCEDURES Tagged With: court motions, legal stories in the news, defenses, probable cause, evidence, police investigations, witness accounts

Maybe Rabbits Shouldn’t Be Police Officers in the World of Zootopia

January 4, 2021 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

officer hops is a terrible cop

The world of Zootopia is an inspirational tale about overcoming prejudice and stereotypes to make a better, more inclusive world. But when the protagonist is the city’s first bunny police officer, who happens to break the law and put the public at risk more often than not, it undermines the positive message she should be […]

Filed Under: CRIMINAL DEFENSE, WHITE COLLAR CRIME, HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS Tagged With: miranda rights, entrapment, lying, search and seizure, fictional, probable cause, extortion, witness accounts, shoplifting, know your rights

Are DUI Sobriety Checkpoints Legal in Vista, California?

August 27, 2020 Written by Jill Harness and Edited by Peter Liss

fighting dui checkpoint arrests in San Diego

If you have been charged with drunk driving after going through a DUI checkpoint, I can help you fight the charges.

Filed Under: DUI / FELONY DUI, Traffic Stops Tagged With: know your rights, dui, police, dui with drugs, traffic stops, probable cause, driving

Call Today, I Can Help You

criminal justice attorney Peter M. Liss

The Experience You Need

I have been practicing law for over 40 years, and opened my own law firm in 1998, after serving as Assistant Supervising Public Defender for the Vista Public Defender’s Office. I have successfully defended hundreds of cases in my career, fighting charges ranging from drunk driving to capital murder.

Two Easy-to-Find Offices

My Vista offices are located just off the 78 freeway, directly across the street from the local courthouse and jail facility. For those further south, I have another office in Carmel Valley, off the 5 freeway and highway 56. Both offices offer free parking.

Call (760) 643-4050 Now

You can call my offices any time of day, every day to speak with a live person who can help you schedule a free initial consultation. If you have any questions, I return my calls promptly and courteously.

My Guarantee to You

I ensure all clients receive top quality representation at affordable rates and I accept all major credit cards. Hablamos Español.

I’m available, let’s talk

My Practice Areas

I handle all types of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases in San Diego County, including:

  • Driving Under the Influence
    • DMV DUI License Hearings
  • Domestic Violence
    • Sex Crimes
    • Sexual Assault/Rape
  • Child Molestation
    • Child Pornography
  • White Collar Crimes
    • Fraud Cases
    • Identity Theft
    • Computer Crimes
    • Theft Crimes
    • Petty Theft
    • Grand Theft
    • Shoplifting
    • Robbery
  • Drug Charges
    • Drug DUI
    • Trafficking
  • Violent Crimes
    • Weapons Offenses
    • Assault
    • Homicide
    • Hate Crimes
    • Gang Crimes
    • Three Strikes Law
  • Criminal Traffic Offenses
    • Driving on a Suspended License
    • Hit and Run accidents
    • Reckless Driving
    • Vehicular Homicide
  • Juvenile Crime Defense
    • Truancy
    • Vandalism
    • Minor in Possession

Categories

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vista crimminal law logo
  • Attorney Peter M. Liss
  • (760) 643-4050
  • 380 S Melrose Drive #301 Vista, CA 92081

Copyright 2003, 2024 Peter M. Liss, Esq. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


About the Legal Information on This Website

I rely on my experience as a top defense lawyer in my area to personally review all information on this site; however the information offered here should not substitute as legal advice. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Vista, please contact a qualified criminal defense attorney.

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